CFI Tampa

Join CFI in Telling the Obama Administration to Stand Its Ground and Finalize Birth Control Rule

June 12, 2012

The
Center for Inquiry (CFI) on Tuesday, June 12, submitted formal
comments that urge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to
make final a rule requiring health insurance providers and organizations
providing health care plans to cover preventive health services, such as birth
control and contraception, without charging a co-payment.

As you are
probably know, the proposed rule has
faced fierce opposition from religious groups. For example, the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has argued that the requirements make
for bad health policy and violate the “conscience” of some religious
individuals and religiously affiliated employers, allegedly infringing their “religious
freedom.” The Bishops want the rule rescinded, or its exemption clause
radically expanded.

CFI believes
the USCCB fails to recognize the scientific basis of the rules, and displays a
regrettable lack of understanding of the concept of religious freedom. We also
believe HHS has provided sufficient accommodation to religiously affiliated
groups. Our
letter outlines the reasons in support of our position.

Yet if HHS chooses to follow the Bishops’
logic, hundreds of thousands of women could be left without preventative health
coverage simply because of their employer’s religiously motivated objections.
This is unacceptable.

That’s why we need your help. HHS
is allowing public comments on the new guidelines until Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Here’s
how you can get involved:

This
drawn out debate over something as basic as birth control is a perfect example
of the harmful influence of religious institutions on public policy. Send a
message to policy makers at HHS right now and tell them it’s time to finalize
the contraceptive rule and move on.